Howard Hughes Sportster Dinghy for sale: $9,500.
This is one of the dinghies made from the materials when the “Spruce Goose” production was on hold by the government. It is a Hughes Sportster made by Howard Hughes at the time he was experimenting with wood and epoxy in his great quest to build an airplane out of wood. The story goes that, at a time when the contract for the “Spruce Goose” was being held up by the government, he put his crew to work building little boats, and some office furniture! He succeeded in building, and flying the gigantic “Spruce Goose,” which is now in the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. Nestled at its base is a little Sportster.
My best information on the production of this dinghy is that it was hot-molded, using sheets of birch laminate, rather than spruce — and resorcinol.
It is not clear how many of these little boats were made but it is widely believed that there were very few still in existence. This one is in great condition, and would make a wonderful addition to any boat enthusiast’s collection.
